the phone as if she could crus

dn't called i

lised after overworking during her first launch. Not when

surfaced-like a shadow that had j

Anita said, her tone

t to s

oice still knew how to unnerve her

" she repeated. "Aft

d about

breath

om

Too cal

ling to make things right. Some

a

cou

the lounge window, the

working wit

her mother said. "But I think h

He had his chance. He just didn't

were strong enough t

w

und like a woman wh

it was exactly why Anita had cut this w

to psychoanal

ng you to stop turning

d. "You mean like yo

ther end confirmed i

said. "I'm staying at the Coral Bay

re to avoid that a

efore another word c

's bed, stroking her daughter'

t was a habit Anita had noticed since infancy-small things that m

he lull of white noise a

ita, there wa

a

mo

ori

gr

f. But for Clara. For the way the past wa

issed Clara's forehe

way and nearly jumped whe

unknow

ted, then

the voice wasn'

linical.

Eze from Morningdew Lab. I

uth we

o

that Mr. Z. Benson is the biol

ath she hadn't real

she doubte

it was

game ha

said softly, an

her office earlier than usual, w

nt looked u

nine o'clock

brushing past. "Clear

-walled corner office and

out her phone

d on the s

lts," she said w

ssum

. "She's yours. As if

t it wasn't a surprised silence.

see her aga

hy

now me. I want her to kn

Anita replied. "An

wasn't there. And I r

n't entitle

asking fo

hen what are y

st a chance to meet her in a space

a ex

he park. Saturday. 10 a.

be t

efore she cha

round in the living room, her pink

o the butterfly

her zip her jacket. "But today, s

. "Is it tha

I want you to be kind. But if you feel unco

lemnly. "Will y

way

filtered through the jacaranda trees, and the so

alread

ter, hands in his pockets, wear

rtai

otted hi

she said, run

heart

ra approached, s

she said,

said gently. "May

ack at Anita,

's hand and pulled h

shade, arms crossed, w

d her daug

ibed the butterflies and her favourite colours

a real one-and her che

she t

n't watch

cause

it felt...

alway

l, a different s

on the balcony, pho

id quietly. "

he other end r

ara's name is legally recognised,

esn't suspect anything. She still

d Zan? He still belie